St Pat’s turn the tables on combo
ST PATRICK’S MICHAEL’S/NOBBER 13-9 6-5
FEW gave St Patrick’s a chance of winning this Under-14 Cup quarter-final, having lost to the same opposition by 20 points earlier in the season, but the Stamullen boys had different ideas.
Their first score was a fine individual from Joe Butler and that set the tone for the game, while at the other end Aman Aktar delivered a man-of-the-match performance as he marked Nobber’s star player.
St Pat’s led by seven points at the break, but St Michael’s/ Nobber hit the first two scores of the second half and the final 20 minutes were a test of character - one that they passed with flying colours.
Under intense pressure the defence held firm and goalkeeper Oisin Black pulled off saves at crucial stages. Sean Baxter dropped back into a defensive role to help tighten things up and that created more room for the swash-buckling forwards. Duguid McDonagh and Sean Emmanuel added to the goal tally and Eoin Brennan smashing a superb shot in off the crossbar.
Donal Farrell, Sean Hackett and Senan McKeon all worked their socks off and with five minutes remaining St Pat’s had built up an unassailable lead.
This team comprises almost entirely of a talented group of under-13s and they march on to the semi-finals with confidence. ST PATRICK’S: Oisin Black, James Rowe, Daanish Aktar, Eoin Brennan, John Mannion, Aman Aktar, Ben McDonnell, Tadgh Lenihan, Sean Baxter, Sean Emmanuel, Donal Farrell, Joe Butler, Sean Hackett, Jamie Murphy, Gareth Keogh, Senan McKeon, Duguid McDonagh.
•St Patrick’s Under-13 opened their Under-13 Division 2 League campaign with a 5-15 to 0-4 win against Dunboyne, with the goals coming from Gareth Keogh and Sean Emmanuel.